Spring Garden Road library closing soon

Staff to start packing for the late fall move to new public library across the street

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Halifax’s main public library branch on Spring Garden Road is closing at the end of the month.

That means users of the branch will have to go to another library site, or perhaps use the municipality’s website services, until the new central library opens in the late fall.

Darlene Beck, acting manager at the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library building, said Wednesday the last day her branch will be open to the public is Aug. 30.

She said staff will be busy once the branch is closed, disassembling things and packing, and then will remain working in the city’s library system prior to the new site opening its doors. No one is to be laid off during the transition period, Beck said.

Professional movers will be taking library material to the new structure, which is still being built. There aren’t any logistical issues regarding moving items that may require special care, Beck said.

“Our system has done this so many times, with moves. So we have a fair bit of experience doing this.”

She said the book drop receptacle at the side of the old library, situated across from Halifax provincial court, will be available for readers to use after Aug. 30. The library system’s website says English and other classes run inside the Memorial branch will continue after the place is closed.

It says summer reading club participants can collect prizes at any open branch until Sept. 6.

Beck said readers are to get a bit of a break on library fines, due to the move across Spring Garden to the new $57.6-million central branch.

During the old library’s closure, no additional fines will be charged for overdue materials.

“And they are getting a longer borrowing period” than the standard three weeks for a book obtained from the old branch, said Beck.

The new central library is to operate seven days a week, although business hours are still to be determined. It will have a collection that is 50 per cent larger than that housed in the old building.

Beck said she anticipates more library employees will be needed to staff the new location.